TUOLUMNE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, USA -- Tuolumne County offers hungry travelers a lot of options from casual food and microbreweries to haute cuisine and fine wine. Here are our favorites:

The National Hotel, Jamestown, CA
Our number one favorite place to dine in Tuolumne County, the National Hotel serves fabulous gourmet food and drink in an elegant old west ambiance. The result is an almost timeless experience that engages all the senses. From the antique furnishings and mood lighting to the tempting scents wafting from the kitchen to the divine flavors of the expertly prepared food and drinks, to the heat given off by the elegant desserts, flambéd at tableside, you'll feel like you're dining in another era, albeit with the fresh flavors and ingredients so important to today's palates.

The National Hotel revels in its California heritage. Whenever possible the chef's use fresh local produce and the restaurant's extensive wine list exclusively features wines from the Sierra Nevada foothill wine region -- especially good news for Zinfandel lovers.

In addition, the National Hotel also boasts one the area's most famous ghost stories. Click here to learn more.

The National Hotel is located at 18183 Main St., Jamestown, CA; 800-894-3446 or 209-984-3446; www.national-hotel.com. Reservations suggested for dinner.

Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite National Park
If you've ever visited Disney's California Adventure Amusement Park in Anaheim, California, it's readily apparent that Yosemite's Ahwahnee Hotel served as inspiration for Disney's Californian Resort. But like most copies, the Disney version pales in comparison to the original. You just can't recreate the tangible aura of history the envelops the spectacular Ahwahnee, not to mention the spectacular surroundings created by Mother Nature.

Located inside Yosemite National Park, the Ahwahnee has only 123 rooms. Plan well in advance if you want to stay here, as visitors often make reservations up to a year in advance, especially during peak seasons. You'll be in good company as the Ahwahnee regularly plays host to celebrities, heads of state and even royalty.

But even if you can't stay, the Ahwahnee is always a great place to stop for something to eat. The dining room is a spectacularly cavernous, rustic craftsman style room that somehow manages to exude warmth, despite its gargantuan size. Lunches are more casual with creative sandwiches, pastas and light entrees. Dinners, of course, are more upscale. Executive chef Terry Sheehan has come up with an eclectic menu with something that will appeal to the Ahwahnee guests' wide variety of palates.

The Ahwahnee also sponsors many special dinners, wine events, cooking classes and other culinary events throughout the year. We hope to bring you details of more of them in the future, but for now, be sure to check out Chef's Holidays at the Ahwahnee.

For more information about the Ahwahnee or to make reservations, call 559-252-4848 or visit www.YosemitePark.com.

City Hotel, Columbia State Park, Columbia, CA
What better way to really immerse yourself in the old west than with a stay at the historic City Hotel in Columbia? Each room is decorated with authentic period antiques, and if you're lucky enough to stay in room 31, a ghost from the past just might pay you a visit, the chamber's ornately hand-carved wooden bed is reportedly haunted (click for more details).

Even if you can't stay, the City Hotel serves upscale food and wine for lunch and dinner. The chef uses local ingredients whenever possible and the hotel's wine cellar is stocked with one of the Mother Lode Country's finest collections, featuring a wide selection from all over the world.

Find the City Hotel at 22768 Main St., Columbia, CA; call 800-532-1479 or 209-532-1479 or visit www.cityhotel.com.

Groveland Hotel, Groveland, CA
The dining room of this historic hotel has seen a lot of action over the years -- the building began life as a rooming house for management personnel sent from San Francisco to oversee the Hetch Hetchy Dam building project, and later a residence hotel for miners and prospectors working in the now defunct gold mine and creek running behind the hotel.

Owner Peggy Mosley took great pride in selecting just the right furnishings and accessories to reflect the hotel's glorious past, including tin wainscoting and art work that celebrates the area's local beauty.

While the décor may be old world, the cuisine at the Groveland reflects the tastes of today's discriminating diners, including a fantastic fresh salmon that's not to be missed along with a selection of the meats, poultry, pastas and seafood, all complemented by an extensive wine list.

In addition to serving some exceptionally fine food and wine, the Groveland hotel has one of the areas only meeting facilities and catering services, perfect for some small business functions and family reunions. Like many other local haunts, the Groveland Hotel also has a resident ghost, click here to learn more.

The Groveland Hotel; 18767 Main St., Groveland, CA; 800-273-3314; www.groveland.com.

The Hotel Charlotte, Groveland, CA
Another of Groveland's historic hotels, the Charlotte also serves a menu of grilled meats, poultry, pastas and seafood. The Charlotte's dining room is a bit more casual than most of the other Tuolumne County hotels, serving good home style food with a respectable collection of wine to accompany them.

The Hotel Charlotte - 800-962-6455 or 209-962-6455 or go to www.hotelcharlotte.com.

Snowshoe Brewery, Sonora, CA
The food at the Snowshoe brewery -- casual fare like burgers, sandwiches, and appetizers, is perfect for a quick anytime bite. But the beer is worth going out of your way for --- some of the best microbrews we've has anywhere!

Snowshoe Brewing Company; 19040 Standard Rd., Sonora, CA; 209-536-1445.

Washington Street Steak House, Sonora, CA
This casual coffee house in Sonora was our favorite casual place to eat in Tuolumne. Don't miss this inexpensive local treasure for a fabulous breakfast or lunch. The portions are plentiful and the food is excellent. Fare ranges from a large selection of creative salads and omelets to sandwiches to, of course, steaks.

Dessert at the Washington Street Steak House is not to be missed, especially the Chocolate Strata, a spectacular creation of a flaky pie crust filled with chocolate, whipped cream, chocolate mousse and meringue, all topped with chocolate sprinkles. But all the desserts are exceptional, owner Shirley Sarno does all the baking for the restaurant along with the Gunn House Hotel (across the street) herself. In today's world of fast food and mixes, it's a delight to get delicious home baked goods made with skill and love.

Washington Street Steak House; 275 S. Washington St.; Sonora, CA; 209-532-2111.

Recipes from Tuolumne County Restaurants

Even if you can't visit, you can still get a aste of Tuolumne County with these fabulous recipes (including Shorley Sarno's famous decadent Chocolate Strata!).

• Washington Street Steak House's Chocolate Strada
• National Hotel's Ramos Gin Fizz
• Snowshoe Brewery's Chicken Medallions in Lemon Butter Sauce
• Ahwahnee Hotel's Key Lime Icebox Cheesecake with Pistachio Crust
• Ahwahnee Hotel's Blue Crab Salad

Note: For more great recipes, be sure to check out Chef's Holidays at the Ahwahnee.

Practicalities:

You can learn more about visiting all the attractions in Tuolumne County by calling the Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-446-1333 or 209-533-4420 or visit their website: www.tcvb.com.

Cheri Sicard, in addition to being the editor of FabulousTravel.com and its sister site, Fabulous Foods.com is the author of The Great American Handbook: What You Can Do For Your Country Today and Every Day and The Low Carb Restaurant Guide, and the co-author of US Citizenship for Dummies. To learn more about Cheri, click here.